Electric lamp



G. E. MEESE ET AL 2,344,160

ELECTRIC LAMP March '14, 1944.

Filed April 15, 1942 Fig 1. Fig.2.

lnven'lrors: George E.Meese,

Herber'lr CWunderLich,

Anbhong J. Marshaus,

Their" A'tfor'neg.

Patented Mar. 14, 1944 ELECTRIC LAMP George E. Meese,

East Cleveland, Herbert C.

Wunderllch, Cleveland Heights, and Anthony Ji Mai-slums. Euclid, Ohio,

a corpo ation of New York Electric Company,

assignors to Genera Application April 15, 1942, Serial No. 439,144

9 Claims.

This invention relates to lighting equipment,

and aflords a novel lighting unit in which are associated a tubular ordouble-ended lamp and an incandescent or other electric lamp which maybe 01' a different type from the first lamp. The first-mentioned lampmay advantageously be of the present ordinary positive columnfluorescent type, and is here illustrated and generally referred to as atubular lamp or lamp tube. In suitable forms such as here shown, thelighting unit is in effect a candle lamp, with the body or shaft of thecandle represented or simulated by the lamp tube, and the candle flameby the other lamp. However, our invention includes various combinationsand parts which may be found useful for other purposes besides a candlelamp unit.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description of species or forms of embodiment, and fromthe drawing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side view of a. lighting unit convenientlyembodying our invention, a portion of the tubular lamp being broken outand removed, and likewise a portion of the connecting cord of the unit;Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the main components ofthe unit partly separated and tilted relative to one another; and Fig. 3is a view similar to the lower portion of Fig. 1 illustrating amodification, one

of the parts being shown partly in vertical axial section.

Fig. 4 is a view-of the pedestal of the unit with its principalcomponents separated and oppositely tilted, and with a hollow base orskirt partly broken away; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view-of theincandescent lamp base structure shown in Fig. 2, on a larger scale.

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram for the unit.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the lighting unit comprises a fluorescenttubular lamp iii of discharge type upstanding from a pedestal H andsurmounted by a socket adapter l2 in which is an incandescent lamp i3,which may have a conoidal or flame-shaped bulb. adapter 52 is shown asconically reduced, upward, from the size of the upper end of the lamp itto a size appropriate for surrounding the base of the lamp l3. and maybe of molded plastic, for example. The tubular lamp H3 is shown as ofordinary type, equipped with the usual bipost bases is at both ends. Thepedestal l l is shown as cylindrical with a flared bottom, and assocketed to engage around the lower portion or end of the lamp l0 andthereby brace the lamp l6 relative to the pedestal. The pedestal ll maybe made of sheet metal and molded plastic.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the socket means of the pedestal ii that takes thelamp it comprises a number The socket of metal spring fingers or clipsI! mounted on the pedestal, to which their inbent lower ends or feet areattached by screws it, around a shallow depression or recess I 1 in theupper surface or the pedestal in which the lower lamp base It engagessnugly but not tightly. In Fig. 3, the pedestal socket consists entirelyof a recess formed by an annular flange l8 upstanding from the upperplastic member 01' the pedestal, and fitting snugly but not tightlyaround the lower end of the lamp tube, the spring fingers being omitted.

In both Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the contact posts 20. 20 of the lower base Hare accommodated and engaged in apertures 2|, 2| in the top of thepedestal H, and thus serve to align the lamp ID with the pedestal, andto guide the base and the lamp end into the recess I! or it. Similarly,the contact posts 20, 20 of the upper base H are accommodated andengaged in apertures 22, 22' in the bottom of the socket adapter [2, andthus serve to align the adapter l2 with the lamp l0 and to keep theseparts in proper relation. Wires 23, 24 are shown extending from theadapter 2 to th pedestal ll along the exterior of the tubular lamp Ill,and as helically wrapped or coiled around the latter. These wires mayserve to hold the socket adapter l2 to the upper end of the fluorescenttube l0 and to hold thelower end of said tube to the pedestal ll, andmay also form parts of circuits that are explained hereinafter.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the pedestal ll comprises a hollow base,or skirt 25 with an insulative top that covers connectors for the lamptube it, the wires 23, it, and also for lamp auxiliaries such as astarter and condenser. This top may be horizontally divided intoseparate parts 26, 21 that afford a chamber or recesses between them.The upper or cover part 26 has the socket recess I! or 08 and thecontact-post holes 2i, 2| in its upper side, as well as holes 28, 28 forthe ends or terminals of the wires 23, 2 3, and the spring fingers l5may be attached directly to it by the screws it. Its lower side ishollowed out or recessed to accommodate various parts, and it may besecured to the lower part 2? by means of screws 29. The lower disc part2? is in efiect a diaphragm acrossthe hollow base 25. In Figs. 1, 2, ande, the hollow base 25 is shown as of sheet metal, and secured to thepart 2? by screws or bolts 36. In Fig. 3, the hollow base 250: is oiinsulating material, and is in efiect "a Skirt integral with the part2?.

As here shown, the parts in the chamber between the cover as and thediaphragm 21 are mounted on the latter. Amongst these parts arespring-clamp connectors 33, 325 whose separable and transversely groovedmembers are aligned with the holes 25 2! in the cover 26 and resilientlygrip the posts 20, 20 between them when they are inserted through theholes, thus holding the lamp I to the pedestal II and also makingelectrical connection to the posts and to the cathode coil 34 connectedbetween them inside the lamp, Fig. 2.. The connectors 33, 33 may bemounted on the heads of screw-posts or bolts 35, 35 bolted through thediaphragm 21 near its periphery. Also mounted on the diaphragm 21 in asimilar manner are hollow socket connectors 31, 31 which are alignedwith the holes 28, 28 in the cover 26 and take terminal or contactpins39, 39 on the lower ends of the Wires 23, 24. In addition, there arestarter connectors 49, 40 consisting of leaf springs mounted on theheads of screw-posts or bolts 4|, 4I mounted on the diaphragm 21 likethe posts 35, 35, and having their free inner ends reversely 'bent toextend on a slope, Fig. 4. These spring contacts 40, 40 engage the usualcontact heads 42, 42 of a starter 44 which is accommodated and housed inthe pedestal base 25 below the diaphragm 21', with its upper end ratherloose in a central socket recess or opening in this diaphragm. The thincentral diaphragm web across the opening in base 25 (shown as a separatedisc 45 secured on top of the diaphragm 21 proper) hasa pair ofannularly extending keyhole slots 41, 41 that receive the startercontact-heads 42, 42 and lock under them when they are inserted andturned past dead center in contact with the springs 40, 40, according tothe usual manner of mounting and connecting such starters. As shown inFig. 4, one of the bipost connectors 33, 33 is connected to one of thestarter connectors 40, 40, within the hollow base 25, by means of a wire48 attached to the lower ends of the correspondin connector posts 35,4|, and the other starter connector 40 is similarly connected to one ofthe socket connectors 31 by means of a wire 49. The other socketconnector 31 and the other bipost connector 33 are connected to currentsupply leads 56, 50 embodied in a flexible attachment cord extendinginto the base 25 through a hole As shown in Fig. 5, the socket adapterI2 comprises a hollow insulative body or casing with a separateinsulative endor bottom wall disc 52 detachably secured thereto in ashallow depression 53 in its large lower end (that lies against the endof-the lamp tube Ill), and apertured at 22, 22 to take the lamp contactand terminal posts 20, 20. Accessible at the upper end of the adapter I2are the usual insulatively separate screw shell and center contacts 54,55 for securing the incandescent lamp I3, Figs. 1 and 2, and makingconnection thereto, as hereinafter described. In bores opening into thedepression 53 are resilient hollow connector clamps 56, 56, aligned withthe bipost openings 22, 22 in the bottom disc 52. They resiliently gripthe base bipost-s 26, 20 when the latter are inserted through theopenings '22, 22, thus holding the adapter I2 to the lamp I0 and alsomaking electrical connection to the posts and to the cathode coil 34connected between them inside the lamp. One of these post connectors 56has a lateral lug or ear 51 that is bent back into a central cavity 58in the adapter I2 and is connected to the center contact'55 by a wire59, thus securely fastening in place the connector 56 and both of thecontacts 54, 55. The other post connector 55 has its lateral lug or-ear51 extending outward into a radial groove or passage 6I in the lower endof the adapter I2, where it is connected to the upper end of the leadwire 23. This connector 56 is securely held in place by the disc 52. Theother lead wire 24 extends in through a curving groove 62 and up throughthe central cavity 58 and a hole 63 to the screw shell contact 54, towhich it is connected.

In Fig. 6,.showing the circuits, corresponding parts and features aremarked with the same reference characters as in Figs. 1, 2., 4, and 5,so that the only description required is to'trace the circuits briefly.One side of the supply circuit 50 connects through one connector 33 andlower bipost 20 to one end of the lower cathode coil 34; while the otherside of this supply circuit 50 connects through one connector 31,

wire 23, screw-shell 54, incandescent ballast lamp I3, center contact55, connector 56, and one upper bipost 20 to one end of the uppercathode coil 34. These connections constitute the oper ating circuit ofthe lamp unit. Across this cperating circuit, through the cathode coils34, 34, is connected the starting circuit, which extends from the otherend of the lower cathode 34 through the other lower bipost 20, connector33, wire 48, one connector 40, starter 44 (shOWn in Fig. 6 as ofglow-switch type, with a condenser C shunt across it as usual), otherconnector 40, wire 49, other connector 31, wire 24, other connector 56,and the other upper bipost 20 'to the other end of the upper cathodecoil 34.

The operating and starting circuits above described and the starter 44operate in the usual manner for fluorescent lamps. When the supplycircuit 50 is energized, the switch device 44 permits flow of currentthrough the starting circuit and the cathode filaments 34, 34 in seriestherein for a sufllcient length of time to preheat the cathodes to anadequate emissive temperature, and then suddenly opens the circuit; andthe resulting voltage kick between the cathodes 34, 34 sufllces toinitiate discharge between them or, in other words, starts the lamp.

' It will be seen that the lighting unit is very, easily assembled afterthe pedestal I I and socket adapter I2 have been fabricated, since thelamps I0 and I3 and the starter 44 may be standard commercial units, andthe wiring 23, 24 i very simple. The mere insertion of the lamp III inthe pedestal socket means l1 or I8 results in automatic engagement 015its contact terminals 20, 20 with the connectors 33, 33; and similarlyas regards the adapter contacts 56, 56 and the application of theadapter I2 to the other end of the lamp I0. By making the insulativepedestal top and the adapter I2 black or of other neutral shade or tint,as well as the lamp tube bases I4, I4 and the wires 23, 24, it ispossible to use lamps I0 and I3 of any desired color(s) with goodeffect. Wrapped around the lamp ID, the leads 23, 24 contribute to thepleasing effect, so that their exposure offers an advantage rather thana problem of finding a way to conceal them.

The hollow base or skirt 25 may be finished like the adapter I2 andbases I4 and the insulative pedestal top, or it may have a contrastingmetal finish such as brass, chromium, or silver, for example. Moreover,the lamps I0 and,I3 of a. unit can easily be replaced by the ordinaryuser, either because of deterioration, 'or to change the colors of theselamps according to taste or for special decorative purposes.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. An imitation candle lighting unit comprising, in combination, avertically disposed doubleended discharge lamp representing the body ofa candle and provided with contact terminals at both ends, a socketedpedestal engaged around the lower end of said lamp and provided withconnectors for automatically engaging the said contact terminals of saidend when the latter is inserted in the pedstal socket, an incandescentlamp socket adapter removably carried by the upper end of said lamp andprovided with connectors for automatically engaging the said contactterminals of said upper'end when the adapter is applied thereto, anincandescent ballast lamp mounted in said socket adapter to representthe candle flame, and conductors connecting the discharge lamp andballast lamp in circuit,

2. An imitation candle lighting unit comprising, in combination, avertically disposed doubleended discharge lamp representing the body ofa candle and provided with connecting posts at both ends, a pedestalapertured to receive the connecting posts of the lower lamp end andprovided with connector for automatically engaging said posts when theyare inserted in said apertures, an incandescent lamp adapter aperturedto receive the connecting posts of the upautomatically engaging saidposts when they are inserted in said apertures, an incandescent ballastlamp mounted in said adapter to represent the candle flame, andconductors connecting the discharge lamp and ballast lamp in circuit.

3. A candle-lamp comprising, in combination, a pedestal, a dischargetube lamp for representcuit,

'25 per lamp end and provided with connectors for.

ing the body of a candle, a socket for an incandescent ballast-lamp torepresent the candle flame, and current leads for connecting said tubeand ballast lamp in circuit wrapped around said tube and holding saidsocket to one end of said tube and the other end of said tube to saidpedestal.

4. A lighting unit comprising, in combination, a pedestal provided withengagement means; a discharge tube having an exterior envelope, andhaving one end secured to said pedestal'by the said engagement means ofthe latter; an incandescent ballast-lamp; a socket for said incandescentballast-lamp provided with engagement means and secured thereby to theother end of said discharge tube; and current leads outside the exteriorenvelope of said tube for connecting said tube and ballast lamp incircuit, and also holding said engagement means of sad socket engagedwith its end of said tube and the other end or said tube engaged withsaid engagement means oi! said pedestal.

5. A candle-lamp comprising, in combination, a pedestal; a fluorescenttube for representing the body of a candle having an exterior envelopewith bipost bases at its ends, and engaged by the biposts at one endthereof with said pedestal; an incandescent ballast-lamp representingthe candle flame; a socket for said ballast-lamp engaged with saidfluorescent tube by the biposts at the other end thereof; and currentleads extending along said tube outside its exterior envelope forconnecting said tube and ballast lamp in circuit and also holding thefluorescent tube biposts engaged with said pedestal and said socket.

6. A lighting unit comprising, in combination, a pedestal provided withmounting and connecting means for a discharge tube starter, and alsohaving socket means for a discharge tube; a discharge tube mounted insaid socket means; an incandescent ballast-lamp; a socket for saidincandescent ballast-lamp mounted on the upper 7. A lighting unitcomprising, in combination,

. a pedestal provided with a fluorescent tube starter and having socketmeans with connectors for biposts of a fluorescent tube base, and alsohaving starter connectors and other connectors, one of said starterconnectors being connected to one oi. said other connectors; afluorescent tube mounted in said socket means with the biposts of itslower base engaging said bipost connectors; an incandescentballast-lamp; a socket structure for said incandescent ballast lampmounted on the upper base of said fluorescent tube and having connectorsengaging the biposts of said upper base, one incandescent lamp contactof said socket structure being connected to one of its said bipostconnectors; current leads wrapped around the fluorescent tube forconnecting another incandescent lamp contact and the other bipostconnector of said socket structure to the aforesaid other connectors 01said pedestal; and current supply leads for the lighting unit connectedone to one of the starter connectors and one to one of thebipostconnectors of said pedestal.

8. A lighting unit comprising, in combination,

a pedestal containing lamp socket and contact means adjacent its uppersurface, a vertically disposed double-ended electric discharge lamphaving contact terminals at both ends, the lower end 01 said lamp beingremovably mounted in the said socket means with the adjacent contactterminals in engagement with the said contact means in said pedestal, anadapter removably mounted on the upper end of said discharge lamp andhaving connectors at its lower end engaging the contact terminals at thesaid upper end of the discharge lamp, said adapter also having anincandescent lamp socket at its upper end, an incandescent ballast-lampremovably mounted in the adapter socket, current supply conductorsextending from said pedestal, and other conductors electricallyconnecting said ballast and discharge lamps to said current supplyconductors.

9. Alighting unit comprising, in combination, a pedestal containing lampsocket and contact means adjacent its upper surface and a starter switchsocket in its interior, a starter switch mounted in said switch socket,a vertically dis posed double-ended electric discharge lamp hav ingcontact terminals at both ends, the lower end of said lamp beingremovably mounted in the said lamp socketmeans with the adjacent contactterminals in engagement with the said contact means in said pedestal, anadapter removably mounted on the upper end of said discharge lamp andhaving connectors atits lower end engaging the contact terminals at thesaid upper end of the discharge lamp, said adapter also having anincandescent lamp socket at its upper end, an incandescent ballast-lampremovably mounted in the said pedestal, and other conductorselectrically connecting said ballast and discharge lamps and saidstarter switch to said current supply conductors.

GEORGE E. MEESE.

HERBERT C. WUNDERLICH.

ANTHONY J. MARSHAUS.

